Crystal
quartz (SiO2) is a very useful material for fabrication of finished
optics: laser beamsplitters, AO elements, polarizing optics, prisms,
windows, lenses in the ultraviolet because of its high UV, VIS and NIR
transmittance, birefringence, ability to rotate plane polarized light,
high damage threshold and resistance to scratching. The optical grade
material is featured by the highest possible transmittance throughout
the range of 190 - 2900 nm, virtual freedom from bubbles and inclusions.
Grown boules are Z - crystals and about 100 mm in the direction down
the optic axis that limits corresponding dimension in an optical part.
Silicon dioxide occurs naturally as sand or rock, and when
melted, the resulting product is called Fused Quartz. If the
silicon dioxide is synthetically derived, the material is often called
Fused Silica. Fused Quartz is very pure, has a high chemical
resistance, good thermal shock resistance and is very strong in compression.
The low thermal expansion coefficient makes it ideal for mirrors and
optical flats. It is used for viewing windows, being transparent to
wavelengths from around 0.2 to 3.5 µm, insulators for electronic
applications and for semi-conductor manufacturing.

Material
properties of the Crystal Quartz:

Quality
grade

Coefficient of absorption (±max at 190 nm), cm-1

Coefficient
of absorption (±max at 2800 nm), cm-1

1

0.010

0.030

2

0.025

0.045

3

0.050

0.070

Properties:

Chemical
Formula

SiO2

Positive
uniaxial crystal

ne
> no

Density,
g/cm3

2.65

Mohs
Hardness

7

Heat
Capacity at 300K, J/kg·K

733

Thermal
Expansion Coefficient at 300 K, 10-6· K-1

a||
= 7.64, a^= 14.00

Thermal
conductivity at 300 K, W/(m×k)

æ||
= 9.5, æ^= 6.10

æ||
= 9.5, æ^= 6.10

Refractive
indices at T = 291°K

Wavelength

no

ne

Wavelength

no

ne

193,6

1,65999

1,67343

706,5

1,540488

1,549472

250,3

1,60032

1,61139

766,5

1,539071

1,548005

303,4

1,576955

1,58720

844,7

1,537525

1,54640

340,4

1,56747

1,577385

1000,0

1,53503

1,54381

410,2

1,556502

1,566031

1300,0

1,53102

1,53962

467,8

1,551027

1,560368

1529,6

1,52800

1,53646

508,6

1,548229

1,557475

1600,0

1,52703

1,53545

546,1

1,546174

1,555350

1800,0

1,52413

1,53242

627,8

1,542819

1,551880

2058,2

1,51998

1,52814

Max. available size:
100 mm along axis <100> and <010> and <001> axis. Quartz elements which
we supply are manufactured as a rule according to customer's specifications.